When you hold a joint practice in NFL training camp, you’re almost expecting to see fireworks spark between the two teams. After all, you’re having players who don’t know each other competing for jobs in hot, humid conditions. Tempers flare.
Now, take that environment and make it a Super Bowl rematch. That fostered the scene that unfolded during Thursday’s practice with the Rams and Bengals in Cincinnati. And it led to an ugly brawl with Rams star Aaron Donald right at the center of it all.
According to ESPN’s Ben Baby, Bengals offensive lineman La’el Collins took exception to being grabbed after a play. When Collins threw punches, both teams joined the melee. That was when Donald came into the fold, swinging a pair of Bengals helmets.
There was video of Donald’s part in the brawl, and you can clearly see him swinging helmets with one in each hand.
You don’t see the league office get involved with practice fights (the league delegates that responsibility to teams), but using a helmet as a weapon was a line that Donald obviously crossed there. It absolutely warrants an exception to that policy.
NFL fans also had thoughts on the brawl and many called for Donald to be suspended. Saturday’s preseason game between the two teams should be interesting, to say the least.
